Submitted by the office of Rep. Huelskamp

WASHINGTON – Chairman Tim Huelskamp (KS-01) held his first hearing as Chairman of a Small Business Subcommittee. As chairman of the Subcommittee on Economic Growth, Tax and Capital Access, Huelskamp held a hearing titled, “SBA Management Review: Oversight of SBA’s Entrepreneurial Development Offices.”
You can watch a replay of the hearing here.

The Small Business Administration, or SBA, has the mission of aiding and counseling American entrepreneurs as they seek to start or grow their company. In the hearing, committee members examined how changes within the Offices of Entrepreneurial Development and Veteran’s Business Development will ensure that the SBA is effective in helping small firms without wasting federal funds on duplicative programs.

According to recent data, almost 600,000 Kansans are employed by small business, and 36% of Kansas businesses have fewer than 100 employees.

Huelskamp gave the following statement on his first hearing:

“As small businesses are the lifeblood of the local economy in my home district, Kansas’ Big First, I want to stress how important the SBA’s mission is and note that as Chairman of this Subcommittee I look forward to working with both my colleagues on both sides of the aisle and the SBA moving forward.

 

“It is an honor to now be in the Chairman’s chair to ensure entrepreneurs are able to start and grow small businesses without government interference.”

 

Congressman Huelskamp was named Chairman of the Small Business Committee’s Subcommittee on Economic Growth, Tax and Capital Access last month. He was also named to the influential Republican Steering Committee late last year.

 

WICHITA, KAN. – A retired Wichita police lieutenant who was paid $56,400 to provide armed engagement training for law enforcement officers was indicted Tuesday on charges of embezzling federal grant funds, according to U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom.

Kevin P. Vaughn, 51, Wichita, who retired in March 2015 after 28 years with the Wichita Police Department, is charged with one count of embezzling U.S. Department of Homeland Security funds, one count of mail fraud, three counts of wire fraud and one count of money laundering.

The indictment alleges Vaughn falsified reports to make it appear his company, Red Mist Tactical, had completed all of 15 eight-hour classes the company agreed to provide. The money for the training came from a grant by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security/Federal Emergency Management Agency (DHS/FEMA) to the Kansas Highway Patrol and the North Central Regional Planning Commission.

The indictment alleges Vaughn:

Falsely reported conducting training in McPherson, Kan., on May 27 and May 28, 2015. In fact, the training sessions took place on June 3 and 4, 2015, after the deadline for the training to be completed. In addition, the training sessions were four hours long, not the eight hours Vaughn’s company had agreed to provide. Vaughn submitted falsified sign-up sheets with forged officers’ signatures.

Falsely reported conducting eight hours of training on May 22, 2015, during the Wichita Police Department Ladies Range Day. In fact, the training lasted four hours and it was not approved by the police department.

Falsely reported offering training in Sumner County on April 27 and May 1, 2015. In fact, there was no training on those days. Vaughn submitted fabricated sign-up sheets for those dates.

Falsely reported offering training in Sumner County on April 20, 21, 22, 23 and 24, 2015. In fact, there was no training on those days. He submitted fabricated sign-up sheets for those dates.

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Kansas lawmakers are criticizing an arrangement in which the University of Kansas borrowed hundreds of millions in out-of-state bonds to build facilities without the approval of the state Legislature.

The university used Wisconsin-based Public Finance Authority to issue nearly $327 million in bonds last month and set up a private corporation to serve as the debtor so it wouldn’t have to seek legislative permission.

University officials say they followed the law.

The Wichita Eagle reports that House Republicans are drafting legislation to prevent state universities from making similar arrangements in the future.

House Speaker and Republican Rep. Ray Merrick criticized the arrangement as avoiding legislative oversight and public view.

The money will finance the construction of buildings on the Lawrence campus, including a science building, dormitory and student union.

TOPEKA, KAN. – A Topeka woman pleaded guilty Tuesday to the sex trafficking of a 17-year-old girl, according to U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom.

Tiara Jade Newman, 22, Topeka, pleaded guilty to one

count of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking. In her plea, she admitted that on March 21, 2015, she and her husband, co-defendant Reginald Newman, 29, Topeka, Kan., took a 17-year-old girl from Topeka to Junction City, Kan., for the purpose of prostitution.

The Newmans rented two rooms at a Value Place motel in Junction City. The rooms — one room for performing commercial sex acts and the other where the three slept – were rented March 21 to March 25.

On March 21, Tiara Newman and the girl met a solder from Fort Riley at the Value Place motel. The soldier paid $250 to have sex with both of them.

On March 26, Tiara Newman took the girl along on an “out call” to the Fairfield Inn in Manhattan, Kan. Newman told the customer that the girl was new and she was showing her the business. The customer noticed that the girl was nervous and gave her a tip.

Reginald Newman kept all the money from the commercial sex acts. He pleaded guilty and is set for sentencing April 1.

Tiara Newman’s sentencing is set for May 2. Newman faces a penalty of not less than 15 years and a fine up to $250,000.

Grissom thanked the following agencies for their work on the investigation: The Topeka Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, the Riley County Police Department, the Junction City Police Department, the Kansas Department of Revenue, the Fort Riley Police Department, the Ottawa Police Department, the Shawnee County District Attorney’s Office, the Pottawatomie County Attorney, the Riley County Attorney and local human trafficking victim specialists.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Supporters and opponents have weighed in on a proposed bill that would give the Kansas Department of Children and Families secretary the authority to cross-check lottery winnings against a list of welfare recipients.

The department’s economic and employment services director, Sandra Kimmons, said at a Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee hearing Monday that anyone who wins more than $10,000 would have to verify their income and resources to see if they’re still eligible for poverty programs.

Recipients who are excessively replacing their benefits cards would be reviewed by the department’s fraud division. The agency would also verify the identities of all the household’s adults.

The Wichita Eagle reportsthat several groups oppose the bill.

Amanda Gress of Kansas Action for Children says the bill creates barriers for children and families to participate in poverty programs.

The Associated Press

Microsoft is recalling about 2.44 million AC power cords for its Surface Pro, Surface Pro 2, and Surface Pro 3 computers sold before March 15, 2015, because of a potential fire hazard.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission says users have reported 56 incidents of the cords overheating and emitting flames, and five incidents where the cords gave users an electric shock.

Microsoft is offering free replacements for the cords. Consumers can get more information by calling (855) 327-7780 or visiting www.surface.com/powercord

Last week, Apple recalled some two-pronged AC power adapters sold for use in continental Europe, Argentina, Brazil, Australia, New Zealand and South Korea, saying that the plugs could break and cause an electric shock.

LANSING – The Kansas Bureau of Investigation is conducting an investigation of an inmate death.

Just before 2:50 p.m. on Monday, a medical emergency was called at Lansing Correctional Facility after inmate Charles Strauch was found unresponsive in his living unit, according to a media release from the Kansas Department of Corrections.

Facility staff immediately initiated a full medical response until medical care was transferred to local EMS at approximately 2:55 p.m.

Strauch died just before 3:25 p.m.

He was convicted of First-degree murder and aggravated sodomy in 1984. according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.

The KBI was notified of the Strauch’s death in accordance with state law. As a result of the ongoing investigation no further information is available at this time.

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Court documents show a federal raid of a hunting lodge in the Flint Hills capped a months-long investigation that included the use of undercover hunters, GPS tracking of vehicles and camera surveillance.

Federal agents executed the search warrant on Jan. 26 on Eagle Head Outfitters Lodge in Grenola. Court documents filed Friday in U.S. District Court in Kansas show authorities seized cameras, phones, photos, firearms, ledgers, waterfowl and other items.

Its owner, Josh Hedges, did not respond to telephone and email messages seeking comment.

The U.S. attorney’s office said Monday that no charges have been filed.

Prosecutors typically don’t make charging decisions until months after searches.

An affidavit shows agents are investigating allegations that include hunting out of season, killing more game than allowed, and illegally baiting fields with feed.

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Authorities are seeking the public’s help investigating the death of a parolee whose remains were found near Wichita.

The Wichita Eagle reports that James Labat was last seen alive by a relative June 25, less than two weeks after he was released on parole in Sedgwick County. A hunter found his remains in December in a wooded area, and they were identified using dental records.

Capt. Greg Pollock of the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office says authorities are working to pinpoint Labat’s movements after he was released from prison. The case isn’t classified as a homicide, although Pollock says the circumstances are considered suspicious.

A coroner’s ruling says Labat’s bones lacked any markings or injuries that would suggest how he died.

Labat had several convictions for burglary and drug offenses.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Attorney General Derek Schmidt says questions about how Kansas Supreme Court justices are chosen will remain until the state’s voters decide the issue.

The Republican attorney general spoke Tuesday to a caucus of GOP Kansas House members. The chamber’s Republican leaders are trying to build support for changing the process for selecting justices.

Conservative Republicans argue that the current system is undemocratic. But changing it requires voters to approve an amendment to the state constitution.

A nominating commission led by attorneys screens applicants for Supreme Court vacancies and names three finalists. The governor must pick one, and legislators have no role.

Supporters of the current system contend it minimizes partisan politics in the selection process. They contend conservative GOP Gov. Sam Brownback and his allies want to control the courts.

HUTCHINSON -A Kansas man accused of aggravated kidnapping, battery-domestic violence, possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia with intent to sell entered a not guilty pleas to the charges during arraignment Monday.

The victim alleged that on November 1, 2015, she was with Arthur Pina Jr., 27, Hutchinson. They got into an argument and she wanted to leave his vehicle.

She told police he refused to let her go. She was eventually able to escape.

When police made contact with Pina, they discovered the drugs and paraphernalia and allege it was a seller’s quantity.

Pina has prior convictions for distribution of drugs and possession of drugs in Sherman County and sale of drugs within a thousand feet of a school, cultivation of drugs, possession of a precursor to manufacture and endangerment of a child in Reno County.

The case will now be scheduled for a pretrial and then possible trial.

By ALEX SMITH

A food-borne virus traced to an Overland Park dinner theater has sickened even more people than originally thought, health authorities say.

More than 600 people have now reported symptoms of norovirus after attending the New Theatre Restaurant in mid-January.

Since the first reports of the illness, state and local health authorities have been working with the popular venue on cleanup and safe food practices.

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment says the New Theatre hired a private company to clean the facility with an approved disinfectant that kills the norovirus and is safe for food establishments.

Norovirus is highly infectious and can cause diarrhea and vomiting, among other symptoms. Transmission can occur through food or water or by touching contaminated surfaces.

Alex Smith is a reporter, and partner in the Heartland Health Monitor team. You can reach him on Twitter @AlexSmithKCUR

PUNXSUTAWNEY, Pa. (AP) — The handlers of Pennsylvania’s most famous groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil, say the furry rodent has failed to see his shadow, meaning means he’s “predicted” an early spring.

Members of the top hat-wearing Inner Circle announced the “forecast” at sunrise, just before 7:30 a.m. Tuesday.

A German legend has it that if a furry rodent sees his shadow on Feb. 2, winter will last another six weeks. If not, spring comes early.

In reality, Phil’s prediction is decided ahead of time by the group on Gobbler’s Knob. The tiny hill is located just outside the town for which he’s named about 65 miles northeast of Pittsburgh.

Records going back to 1887 show Phil has now predicted more winter 102 times while forecasting an early spring just 18 times. There are no records for the remaining years.